© 2011 Maplesoft
The Potential for Maple and MapleSim to Energize the Curriculum to Meet Emerging Needs of 21st Century Engineering
Derek Wright PhD
MapleSim Product Manager, Maplesoft
December 6, 2011
© 2011 Maplesoft
Assertions1. Even with a technology strategy, we are currently
not getting to the conceptual core of engineering modeling
2. Industry is undergoing a major transformation and we stand to fall behind in our pedagogy
3. New software promises to reconcile theory with application and design in industry, research, and ultimately in the classroom
© 2011 Maplesoft
Things oscillateand blow up
Things justblow up
Nothingmuch happens
Things blowup faster
Things oscillateand die down
Things justdie down
Things diedown faster
Things oscillatemore violently
Things oscillate
Let’s explore this a bit …
© 2011 Maplesoft
Why is this important?
Roots
Transferfunctions
Differentialequations
DEsolution
Time response
Eigenvalues?
Frequencyresponse?
Convolution?Root locus?
?
?
??
??
© 2011 Maplesoft
Observations• Things blow up because of the positive exponential
• Things oscillate because complex roots in Laplace lead to sinusoids in time
• If you have real roots only on the LHP, things are steady and stable
• Etc.
© 2011 Maplesoft
Some desirable conclusions• We like DEs because they predict physical behavior• We like Laplace transforms because make it easier to
manipulate the math• The art of engineering is about choosing the
parameters that will avoid things blowing up or oscillating violently
• Engineering modeling makes much more sense when mathematics and visualization are placed in the right context– Thank goodness for computers
© 2011 Maplesoft
Prevailing practice
MATLAB snippet forcomputing time responsegiven the coefficients ofthe transfer function
© 2011 Maplesoft
Assertions1. Even with a technology strategy, we are currently
not getting to the conceptual core of engineering modeling
2. Industry is undergoing a major transformation and we stand to fall behind in our pedagogy
3. New software promises to reconcile theory with application and design in industry, research, and ultimately in the classroom
© 2011 Maplesoft
The curriculum disconnect
Freshman calculus + Algebra
Ordinary differential equations
Linear systems + Control systems
© 2011 Maplesoft
The conceptual core
Roots
Transferfunctions
Differentialequations
DEsolution
Time response
Engineering mathematics exists only to model real systems
The purpose of modeling is insight and design • not numbers• not math• not necessarily even “applications”
© 2011 Maplesoft
The computing disconnect• Basic usability
• Role of the computer in a professional curriculum– Teach the tool or teach the concepts?– In math, the answer is clear. In engineering?
• Push for standardization of technology
• Industry, the great arbitrator
© 2011 Maplesoft
Assertions1. Even with a technology strategy, we are currently
not getting to the conceptual core of engineering modeling
2. Industry is undergoing a major transformation and we stand to fall behind in our pedagogy
3. New software promises to reconcile theory with application and design in industry, research, and ultimately in the classroom
© 2011 Maplesoft
Emerging challenges in Model Based Design
Task
s Capacity
Number of functions (Complexity)
“Taking countermeasures may be delayed due to hesitation for the investment and the subjective impression that we have done well.”
A. Ohata TMC, PMC Meeting Aug. 2007
© 2011 Maplesoft
Physical/Plant Modeling Consortium (PMC)
ToyotaDaimlerGMAudiVolkswagenFordRenaultFiatHondaJaguar & Rover
OEM
BoschDensoHitachiFujitsuMagnaJATCO
Suppliers
MaplesoftIAVEmmeskaydSpaceETASModelonAVL
Solutions
U WaterlooUC BerkeleyLund UTU BerlinU MichiganU BirminghamMcGill U
Universities
Partial list of members
© 2011 Maplesoft
Conclusions from PMC1. Need more effective plant modeling tools. Need to
decrease the time it takes to produce good plant models.
2. Need to increase the practicing engineer’s ability to produce more formal “correct” models.
3. Need a modern balance between rigor and practice– Something called “Physical modeling” is a big part of this.
© 2011 Maplesoft
Assertions1. Even with a technology strategy, we are currently
not getting to the conceptual core of engineering modeling.
2. Industry is undergoing a major transformation and we stand to fall behind in our pedagogy.
3. New software promises to reconcile theory with application and design in industry, research, and ultimately in the classroom
© 2011 Maplesoft
Physical Modeling and MapleSim
• Assemble models with meaningful components
• Complete set of simulation solvers
• 2D and realistic 3D visualization
• Full display of model equations
• Powered by Maple• Professional tool with
connectivity to industrial toolchains
© 2011 Maplesoft
Motivation for physical modeling
You still need to manually derive DEs
Computer implementation is abstract
Are you teaching the concept or the tool?
Are you making the connections?
© 2011 Maplesoft
Benefits of physical modeling
Physical model diagrams map directly to the system
Can we see the math?
© 2011 Maplesoft
Pedagogical goal
Concepts Science Math Requirements Systems Theory ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Experiments Validation Reality Intuition RT simulation∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Models Virtual Simulation Visualization Parameters Design ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙An effective bridge between theoretical concepts and
realistic design applications
© 2011 Maplesoft
Electrical Mechanical
Signal Flow/Control
Bonus benefit: multidomain modeling
• Easily connect mechanical with electrical, hydraulics, thermal systems
• Mix physical components with signal flow • Mathematical consistency ensured by symbolic engine
© 2011 Maplesoft
Bonus benefit: Real-time simulation and control
Plant modelAnalysisController design
MapleSimequation and
code generation
Controller implementationReal-time management
Embedded controllerData acquisition
Model development from months to days
Highly optimized (fastest) models for RT research
Extended analysis
Gateway to research and industry
SystemHIL Simulation
© 2011 Maplesoft
Conclusions
• Reduce model development time from months to days
• Realize previously infeasible models
• Quickly test new model formulations
• Maximum speed for real-time
• Natural fit with Simulink
Research• Bring theory to life
without sacrificing rigor
• Respond to emerging trends in industry
• Control, engineering modeling, robotics, mechatronics, machine design, etc.
Education
© 2011 Maplesoft
Teach the concept or the tool?• Teach the concept and the toolchain (a methodology)
• Take every opportunity to extend the conceptual boundaries (theoretical or practical)
• Individual tools should be easy enough so that particulars need minimal instruction
• Build bridges not walls
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